Saturday, March 3, 2007

Sorry. I know it's days later. But I can't get over this. (That and the Ryan Smyth villianization has already begun in earnest on most Oilers web boards. As much as it pains me to say this, most of our fans are basically mouthbreathing automaton Aztec player-sacrificing suckwads)

In an ideal world, the Oilers would win out the rest of the season, go on a streak all the way to the finals, where, in overtime of game seven, Ryan Smyth scores the game winning goal, lifting the Islanders over the Oil.

I'm wondering why you can't possibly be mad at Ryan Smyth and still be a fan of his? Not all fans are controlled by puppet masters (ie: the EIG). We can be mad at him and love him. We can be mad at Smyth and Lowe. They are both to blame for this mess.

But you have to make the best of this situation. When you're an Oiler fan, that's it. You don't turn your back on the team. It is a business in the end, and whatever happened is not in our control. Nor will we ever know exactly what went down.

But you have to make the best of this situation. When you're an Oiler fan, that's it. You don't turn your back on the team. It is a business in the end, and whatever happened is not in our control. Nor will we ever know exactly what went down.

If it's "a business," then surely I have the right to vote with my dollars, feet and eyeballs when the team makes business decisions I disagree with. Trading Smyth, for example.

Fuck, I sure don't remember taking a blood-oath to support the Oilers no matter what crap they throw my way, so your pleas to emotion don't wash. I know trying to divine rationality from sports fans is a fool's errand, but can you at least tell me how you overcome the cognitive dissonance to reconcile the cutthroat, amoral "it's a business" model with the "my hockey team, right or wrong" sentimentalist claptrap?

I sure don't remember taking a blood-oath to support the Oilers no matter what crap they throw my way, so your pleas to emotion don't wash. I know trying to divine rationality from sports fans is a fool's errand, but can you at least tell me how you overcome the cognitive dissonance to reconcile the cutthroat, amoral "it's a business" model with the "my hockey team, right or wrong" sentimentalist claptrap?

Couldn't have said it better if I tried. The disconnect is amazing.

Did you photoshop Smytty's hair, by the way, Mike? Because it looks too flowing for even him. I can't stop staring at it.

I'm wondering why you can't possibly be mad at Ryan Smyth and still be a fan of his? Not all fans are controlled by puppet masters (ie: the EIG). We can be mad at him and love him. We can be mad at Smyth and Lowe. They are both to blame for this mess.

Precisely. There's a difference between saying, "Boy, Smyth wanted a lot of money, it's too bad something couldnt't be worked out," and "That asshole, how dare he demand that from us? I hope he burns in hell for his greed."

Obviously, I think agreeing to Smyth's asking price would have hindered the team in the long-term. Does that mean I don't tear up everytime I think of his airport presser? Absolutely not.

I know we're good friends and all, and I by no means want to jeapordize that... but, y'know... since you and Smytty broke up, I, well, I was just wondering if you'd be upset with me if next season you saw Ryan Smyth hanging out in a Flames uniform.

It's not like you two are an item anymore, and maybe in time it'd be comfortable. Y'know like at parties. It's just that I've had an eye on Smyth for a while, and figured that since you no longer need him in your flock, maybe we could help him realize his potential.

Just a thought. Again, you can be straight with me bro... Bros before hos... always.